Some people loose teeth due to injury, tooth decay, or gum disease. Others may not have had all their teeth grow in. Whatever the reason, if you want a long lasting dental restoration that looks and feels as though it's really part of your mouth, without involving neighboring teeth, dental implants may be right for you.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root. Your jawbone fuses with the implant to provide a secure platform for a single artificial tooth, or if you are missing more than one tooth, several implants can be used to support a partial or complete denture.

THE PROCEDURE

Initially, you will have a thorough exam and treatment planning visit with both the dentist and the surgeon who will be putting the implant in place. After treatment needs are decided, the surgeon will surgically place the correct sized implant in a carefully planned position.

Usually, several months are allowed to pass with the implant covered only by a "healing cap". During this important period of healing, the body will fully integrate the implant into the newly formed bone surrounding the threads of the implant. If the implant is placed in an area of the mouth that is cosmetically important, you will have some form of temporary tooth replacement.

Once the implant is solidly a part of the jaw, the dentist can proceed with your restoration; either a beautiful, natural looking crown is bonded on the implant, or a new denture can be made to precisely and snuggly attach to multiple implants. Those visits are uncomplicated and painless. Usually it will take 2 visits to complete the crown on an implant: one to make a model of the implant post and a second to place the crown on top.